Moore's law, amplifiers and car audio

[P4killer_]

Its just about scale. Things get smaller and smaller. Which means 2 things.

1 you can take the same say amp and put in a way smallller case.

2 you can use these new smaller parts and put a twice as powerful amp in the same case as the original..

And on an on it goes.

The first computers took up HOUSES of space. Now my PHONE is literally 1 million times faster.

Could this happen with amps? Not to that extreme prolly not.

[Wicks]

Something to keep in mind with 12V amplifiers is that they don't create power, they only convert it.

Therefore with the high power levels required by modern subwoofers, you need massive input currents when you're limited to a relatively low voltage (12-16V).

That requires a LOT of copper to conduct the current and that equates to space, weight and heat loss which is directly proportional to the current-squared. P=I^2*R

So you have to either increase the efficiency (as with Class D) or increase the voltage which is difficult because most vehicles only have a 12V electrical system and converting that would be very expensive.

[JNells]

Its just about scale. Things get smaller and smaller. Which means 2 things.

1 you can take the same say amp and put in a way smallller case.

2 you can use these new smaller parts and put a twice as powerful amp in the same case as the original..

And on an on it goes.

The first computers took up HOUSES of space. Now my PHONE is literally 1 million times faster.

Could this happen with amps? Not to that extreme prolly not.

Good point, and in that respect it's why amps have gotten bigger in power but yet get more n more compact. (Even wallet sized power amps). But as you said there are limits in an analog system, due to components, space, heat, etc. with that said could there be a leap into all digital someday? If it is ever refined and perfected to sound and power like an analog. (If that ever happens or is even possible).